Page last updated: 18 February 2026
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games return to Italy for the first time since Turin 2006, marking the country’s third time hosting the Winter Olympics. This year’s Games are making history by spreading out across northern Italy – covering a massive 22,000 square kilometers of stunning Alpine scenery.
When are the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics?
The Olympic Winter Games run from February 6 to February 22, 2026 (though early competitions officially kicked off on February 4).
- Once the Olympics wrap up, the Paralympic Winter Games will take place from March 6 to March 15, 2026, with the opening ceremony at Arena di Verona and closing ceremony at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.
Where are the 2026 Winter Olympics being held?
Events are spread across multiple cities and regions in northern Italy, including Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Valtellina, Val di Fiemme, and Verona.
In a cool twist, the opening and closing ceremonies are happening in two entirely different cities.
- Opening Ceremony: San Siro Stadium in Milan on February 6, 2026 at 8:00 PM local time.
- Closing Ceremony: Verona Arena in Verona on February 22, 2026 at 8:00 PM local time.
How many countries will participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics?
- Over 90 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are competing in the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics.
- Around 50 National Paralympic Committees will compete in the Paralympic Winter Games.
How many athletes will participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics?
- The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will host approximately 2,900 competitors across all sports and events.
- The Paralympic Winter Games will feature around 665 athletes, representing a nearly 20% increase from Beijing 2022.
New Sports and Fan Favorites
From high-speed ice racing to grueling mountain climbs, here is the official lineup.
How many sports and events will be included in Milano Cortina 2026?
Between the Olympics and Paralympics, athletes are competing across 14 sports and nearly 200 medal events.
- The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will feature 8 sports, 16 disciplines, and 116 medal events.
- Ice Sports: Bobsleigh, Luge, Skeleton, Curling, Ice Hockey, Figure Skating, and Speed Skating.
- Snow Sports: Biathlon, Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country, Freestyle, Nordic Combined, Ski Jumping, and Snowboard.
- New Debut: Ski Mountaineering is finally making its debut, bringing grueling uphill climbs and tricky mountain navigation to the world stage.
- Ice Sports: Bobsleigh, Luge, Skeleton, Curling, Ice Hockey, Figure Skating, and Speed Skating.
- The Paralympic Winter Games will showcase 6 sports and 79 medal events, including Para Alpine Skiing, Para Biathlon, Para Cross-Country Skiing, Para Ice Hockey, Para Snowboard, and Wheelchair Curling.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Medal Table
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 14 | 8 | 9 | 31 |
| 2 | Italy* | 9 | 4 | 11 | 24 |
| 3 | United States | 6 | 10 | 5 | 21 |
| 4 | Netherlands | 6 | 6 | 1 | 13 |
| 5 | Germany | 5 | 8 | 7 | 20 |
| 6 | Austria | 5 | 8 | 4 | 17 |
| 7 | France | 5 | 7 | 4 | 16 |
| 8 | Sweden | 5 | 5 | 2 | 12 |
| 9 | Switzerland | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| 10 | Japan | 4 | 5 | 10 | 19 |
| 11-26 | Remaining NOCs | 16 | 19 | 23 | 58 |
| Total | (26 NOCs) | 80 | 82 | 79 | 241 |
Completed events (Live Status): 80 of 116
Last updated:18 February 2026
*Host Nation
The Venues & Schedule
A breakdown of where the action is happening across the Italian Alps.
What is the schedule and where are the venues for Milano Cortina 2026?
The Games utilize 15 official venues (13 for sports competitions and 2 exclusively for ceremonies). Impressively, more than 90% of them are existing or temporary facilities, making this one of the most sustainable Winter Olympics in history. The only brand-new permanent venue constructed is the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena.
Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Schedule & Venue Guide
| Sport / Event | Competition Dates | Primary Venue | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Ceremony | Feb 6 | San Siro Olympic Stadium (Milan) | 76,000 |
| Curling | Feb 4–22 | Cortina Curling Stadium | 3,500 |
| Ice Hockey | Feb 4–22 | Santagiulia Arena / Rho Arena | 16,000 / 6,000 |
| Figure Skating & Short Track | Feb 6–21 | Milano Ice Skating Arena | 9,700 |
| Speed Skating | Feb 7–21 | Milano Speed Skating Stadium | 8,000 |
| Alpine Skiing (Women) | Feb 7–19 | Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre | 3,700 |
| Alpine Skiing (Men) & Ski Mountaineering | Feb 8–21 | Stelvio Ski Centre (Bormio) | 7,000 |
| Biathlon | Feb 7–22 | Anterselva Biathlon Arena | 19,000 |
| Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined | Feb 7–22 | Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium | 5,000 |
| Cross-Country | Feb 7–21 | Tesero Cross-Country Stadium | 15,000 |
| Bobsleigh, Luge, Skeleton | Feb 7–22 | Cortina Sliding Centre | 5,500 |
| Freestyle & Snowboard | Feb 7–21 | Livigno Snow/Aerials Park | 10,000 / 3,000 |
| Closing Ceremony | Feb 22 | Verona Olympic Arena | 15,000 |
The Ticket & Tourism Boom
The massive economic and cultural boost hitting northern Italy right now.
How many tourists are expected for Milano Cortina 2026?
An estimated 2 to 2.5 million visitors will travel for the Olympic Games, with an average stay of 3 nights per tourist, according to government security briefings.
- For the Paralympics (March 6-15), Banca Ifis forecasts an additional 406,000 spectators and 1.24 million overnight stays.
How many tickets are available and sold for Milano Cortina 2026?
Milano Cortina 2026 offered about 1.4 million tickets for the Olympic Games and 255,000 for the Paralympics.
- As of mid-February 2026, over1.27 million tickets have been sold, representing an approximately 91% sell-through rate.
How can someone obtain tickets for Milano Cortina 2026?
- Tickets for Milano Cortina 2026 have been available for purchase through the official Milano Cortina 2026 website or authorized ticket resellers.
- A range of ticket prices has been made available to ensure accessibility for various audiences, including packages and single-event tickets.
What is the total budget for Milano Cortina 2026?
The total investment for Milano Cortina 2026 exceeds €5 billion when including all Olympic-related spending across operations and infrastructure.
- Operating budget (Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026): Approximately €1.7 billion, approved by the Board of Directors in April 2025.
- Infrastructure investment (public works program managed by SIMICO): Approximately €3.4 billion across 94-98 projects, including 44 sports facilities (approximately €730 million) and 50 transport infrastructure projects.
Expected Economic Impact of Milano Cortina 2026
Milano Cortina 2026 is expected to generate approximately €5.3 billion in total economic value, according to analysis by Banca Ifis.
- This breaks down into €1.1 billion in immediate spending during the Games, €1.2 billion in deferred tourism spending in the 12-18 months after the Games, and €3.0 billion in infrastructure legacy value.
- For Milan specifically, Confcommercio estimates €319 million in economic benefits from Olympic spectators and €31 million from Paralympic visitors, with average per-capita spending at €440 (Olympics) and €424.50 (Paralympics).
How sustainable are the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics?
Milano Cortina 2026 emphasizes sustainability as a core principle, with over 90% of venues being existing or temporary facilities.
- Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena is identified as the only new permanent venue built for the Games.
- The Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026 has developed a comprehensive Carbon Footprint Baseline and GHG Emissions Reduction and Mitigation Plan, with the planning-phase carbon inventory totaling 16,769 tCO₂e in 2023 (purchased services representing approximately 95.7% of emissions).
- Renewable energy, eco-friendly transportation, and sustainable materials are prioritized throughout the Games operations
What should international visitors know before traveling?
For travelers planning to attend Milano Cortina 2026, most short-stay visitors can stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period under the Schengen short-stay rule.
- ETIAS: The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is expected to begin operations in the last quarter of 2026, so it should not be required for February-March 2026 Olympic travel.
- EES (Entry/Exit System): The EU’s biometric entry/exit system started rolling out on October 12, 2025, with full implementation by April 10, 2026. This means travelers may need to provide fingerprints and photos at border crossings during the Olympic period.
- Tickets and Transportation: Purchase tickets only through official channels to avoid counterfeit tickets and unauthorized resellers. Plan extra time for inter-city transfers, as the Games span a wide geographic area across northern Italy.
How can fans watch Milano Cortina 2026?
Fans can watch Milano Cortina 2026 through official broadcasters and streaming platforms in their region.
- Official directory: The Olympics.com website provides a comprehensive media rights holder lookup for all countries.
- United States: NBCUniversal and Peacock hold exclusive U.S. media rights through 2036, following a $3 billion extension agreement.
- Europe: Warner Bros. Discovery and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) provide Europe-wide coverage from 2026-2032, with WBD streaming “every moment” and EBU members delivering free-to-air coverage.
- United Kingdom: BBC iPlayer offers free streaming, while Discovery+ provides comprehensive paid coverage.
- Canada: CBC and CBC Gem provide extensive Olympic coverage.
- Australia: 9Now offers free streaming, with additional coverage on Stan Sport.
Where will the next Winter Olympics be held after 2026?
The next Winter Olympics will be held in the French Alps (2030) and Salt Lake City, Utah (2034).
- 2030 Winter Olympics: French Alps, France (February 1-17, 2030) – elected July 24, 2024.
- 2034 Winter Olympics: Salt Lake City-Utah, United States (February 10-26, 2034) – elected July 24, 2024.
Previous Year Olympics
Italy Travel Statistics Resources
Reference
- Olympics.com: Milano Cortina 2026 Official Website | Key Facts & Schedule
- MC: Milano Cortina 2026 Venues Information
- BL: Sport System and Milano Cortina 2026 Economic Impact Study
- CM: Economic Impact Study for Milan Olympic and Paralympic Games
- FMC: Sustainability, Impact and Legacy Report
- EUTP: ETIAS and EES Implementation Timeline
- NBCO: Media Rights Agreement Through 2036
